CLEVELAND — Kyrie Irving scored 18 of his 33 points in the third quarter and the injury-riddled Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Atlanta Hawks 99-83 on Wednesday night.

Irving’s big night came at a perfect time for Cleveland, which had lost five of six overall and six straight at home. The margin of victory was Cleveland’s biggest of the season.

The Cavaliers, who had only 10 available players, announced earlier in the day that center Anderson Varejao will have surgery today to repair a muscle that split near his right knee. He will miss six to eight weeks. Varejao was having an All-Star caliber season, averaging 14.1 points and an NBA-leading 14.4 rebounds.

Josh Smith scored 17 points to lead Atlanta, which has lost a season-worst four straight. Hawks coach Larry Drew, who called his team “soft” following Tuesday night’s loss to Minnesota, watched his team get completely outplayed after tying the game early in the third quarter.

BOSTON — Jeff Green scored 14 points, rookie Jared Sullinger added 12 points and a career-best 16 rebounds, and Boston recovered from a dreadful third quarter with a big rally to start the fourth and held off slumping Phoenix.

Jason Terry added 13 points as Boston’s reserves outscored Phoenix’s 47-16. Kevin Garnett was the only Boston starter to score in double figures, finishing with 10 points and five rebounds.

After losing its last game on a buzzer-beater against a last-place Washington team saddled by injuries to its three top players, Oklahoma City left nothing to chance with the Timberwolves missing All-Star forward Kevin Love and four others.

The Thunder took control with a string of seven straight points early in the second half and stretched their lead to 24 before pulling Durant, Westbrook and the other starters with 5:44 remaining.

Landry Fields set season highs with 10 points and 11 rebounds. DeMar DeRozan scored 19 and Ed Davis had 17 for the Raptors, who had lost six of their previous seven meetings with Philadelphia, including three straight.

Jrue Holiday and Thaddeus Young each scored 16 points and Evan Turner had 10 as the Sixers lost for the 13th time in 16 games.

JAZZ 112, BOBCATS 102

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Al Jefferson had 26 points and eight rebounds, and Utah beat Charlotte for its fourth win in five games.

Jefferson was 11 of 15 from the field and the Bobcats simply had no answer for the 6-foot-10 center in the paint.

Paul Millsap chipped in with 19 points and Gordon Hayward was 4 of 5 from 3-point range for 14 points as the Jazz made light work of the Bobcats’ zone defense, shooting 54 percent from the field.

Utah (19-18) led from the opening tip, building a 19-point halftime lead.

BUCKS 104, BULLS 96

CHICAGO — Brandon Jennings scored 20 of his 35 points in the third quarter and Milwaukee beat Chicago for their second consecutive victory under interim coach Jim Boylan.